The Albert Lea wrestling team started the season 3-1 Saturday at the Rochester Duals.

The fifth-ranked Tigers earned a 39-27 victory over Stewartville to open the day and picked up a 71-3 victory over John Marshall and a 66-9 victory over Mankato West to advance to the finals.

Albert Lea met Plainview-Elgin-Millville, the third-ranked team in Class 2A, in the finals and fell 54-12.

P-E-M has nine ranked wrestlers and a strong senior class that had little problem with the young Tiger squad.

Albert Lea had six wrestlers get their first varsity experience Saturday.

“These kids got to see some great competition in this match,” said Tigers head coach Larry Goodnature. “I thought we wrestled well and some of the matches were pretty tight.”

Trevor Rasmussen went to overtime in his match with against Cody Dillinger and Rasmussen won by fall in the extra session to give Albert Lea six points against Plainview-Elgin-Millville.

Cory Hansen went 4-0 in the tournament and picked up a victory against P-E-M’s Dylan Nelson with a pinfall at 30 seconds at 135 pounds to give Albert Lea its other six points in the match.

The Tigers face Rochester Century Thursday in Rochester.